This New Maryland Bill Would Require Domestic-Violence Suspects to Wear GPS Trackers

The Maryland House of Representatives just passed a bill to require domestic abusers and domestic-abuse suspects to wear GPS trackers, which would alert victims' phones if their abusers came near, NBC reports.

House Bill 1163 is known as Amber's Law in honor of Amber Schinault, a 36-year-old woman murdered by her abusive ex, Andrew Kugler, in July 2012 — despite the fact that Schinault had a protection order against him.

Amber’s Law would allow judges to order tracking of convicted and suspected abusers via GPS-equipped ankle monitors. The trackers would be linked to victim’s phones via an app, and if an abuser entered an area a court had ordered them to avoid — for example their victim's residence or workplace — the victim would get an alert.

“I feel like it’s the birth of my first grandchild. It’s Amber’s legacy," Angela Zarcone, Schinault’s mother, told NBC. "The victim just has an app on her phone, with her all the time. She can go about living her life and would know if the perpetrator became close to her, she has time to take care of her situation."

Aruna Miller, the delegate who introduced Amber's Law, explained that although Amber and her family did "everything they were supposed to do" — including getting a protective order and changing their home's locks — Amber was found murdered in her basement on July 22, 2012. Kugler was later arrested, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison.

Later this week, Amber’s Law will go to Maryland governor Larry Hogan, who can veto it, sign it into law, or allow it to pass into law if he does nothing. Amber’s horrific death shows precisely why the passage of this legislation is so important: Even when domestic abuse survivors do "everything they’re supposed to do," it is often not enough. Research has shown that some 90 percent of domestic murders are preceded by domestic violence incidents, and among men, a felony domestic violence conviction is the most accurate predictor of future violent crime. Amber's Law has the potential to both reduce attacks and murders and help victims live their lives in less fear.